Tipping etiquette and Jamaica.

[Flipadelphia26]

Here is one, Jackie and I were unsure of when we were down in Jamaica.

We pretty much tipped everyone we would tip here in America. Cab drivers, Bartenders, Food servers, Baggage handlers etc... I usually leave a 20% tip here on a bill in the USA. If the service is great I will leave more. If the service is terrible, I will generally leave 15%.

I understand that many people visit from Europe and Canada, and tipping etiquette may not be the same.

So what is the standard in Jamaica? Or do the people there, come to expect one thing from one group of people and something from someone else?

[original spanky]

you are a generous tipper. surprised you would leave 15% for terrible service.???

[Flipadelphia26]

you are a generous tipper. surprised you would leave 15% for terrible service.???

Absolutely. 15% I worked my way through college in the service industry. In the states you make like 3 bucks an hour and depend on the tips to survive. If I have a bad day at my office job, I still get paid the same as I would on a great day. So that's kind of how I look at it.

[Blake]

Absolutely. 15% I worked my way through college in the service industry. In the states you make like 3 bucks an hour and depend on the tips to survive. If I have a bad day at my office job, I still get paid the same as I would on a great day. So that's kind of how I look at it.

I still work in the service industry(not restaurants anymore but I used to work for them) and no one I knows expects 20% for average service.

I'm sorry, but the wage creep expectations has gotten ridiculous.

It used to be 10%, now it fluctuates for average service to 15-20%, and in theory I agree that as cost of living goes up the wages should go up to, but the thing is they're going up at twice the rate they should be going up! If the food costs go up the wages will automatically go up to reflect inflation.

I tip 0% for terrible service when I know the server screwed up big time.

15% average service, stressed out server, overworked kitchen, etc.

20%+ above and beyond what I expect when dining out.

A good server that makes a crucial mistake knows when he doesn't deserve a tip, but at the same time I would never stiff any servers without a helluva good reason.

I'm laid back when it comes to screw ups and while I was in the restaurant business I learned that people do stiff servers for performing average service, but being realistic 20% for average service is uncalled for.

A good server still makes money, the bad ones quickly either improve or get the heck out of the business.

That said, I always tip for coat check(not that I'll need it in Jamaica....) and I usually always drop a $5-20 bill at the host stand because I used to run a host stand and 9/10 times the hostesses/Maitre D gets walked all over by customers, servers, management, etc and I've seen way too much under-appreciation for the craft of seating optimization.

If you can get me seated in a timely manner when your restaurant is fully booked and I see the hustle then I'm likely to tip the server and the host staff and maybe throw a $10 bill directly to the bussers/food runners.

That said, I can carry my own darn bags and no I don't believe in paying a service charge and then paying more unless they go above and beyond.

Speaking of tipping etiquette in Jamaica, does anyone have any success with the credit card sandwich trick at checkin? Is it frowned upon in Jamaica to tip the hotel desk for "upgrades"? I've used it in Vegas to some degree of success and am curious about the results in Jamaica...

The Sandwich trick is where you put a $5-50 bill between your credit card and ID at check in and hand it over to the clerk to "grease the palms" in order to possibly get upgrades/complementary items. If the clerks can't take it they'll usually give you the money back and life goes on, or at worst you're out the amount you "betted" on upgrades.

[captaind]

After 9 trips in the 3 years since I returned I've averaged 28.6% on food, drink, transportation, housekeeping etc.

[Beebeluv]

After 9 trips in the 3 years since I returned I've averaged 28.6% on food, drink, transportation, housekeeping etc.

I love how you have it down to the tenth of the percent!!!

[Seveen]

i tip like at home - the only difference is i make sure it goes directly into the hand that i want to have it - no just leaving it on the table . . .

[dash]

One thing I make sure that I take care of housekeeping staff. Waiters and barmen get their due but housekeeping get forgotten sometimes.hh

[Mike_D]

This is a good topic. I always tip at restaurants like I do at home, and make sure I take care of any hotel staff that has provided any service for us. I also tip taxi drivers a couple bucks at each drop-off. I've heard drivers complain that some tourists negotiate a price and then don't tip on top of that.

However, I am still a little confused about places that charge a "Service Charge" (i.e. Ivan's). I have heard that the Service Charge is a tip and that you are welcome add to it if the service is good. I've also read on some websites that the Service Charge is not considered a tip, and you are expected to tip a full 15-20% on top of that. What's the right answer?

[Bnewb]

However, I am still a little confused about places that charge a "Service Charge" (i.e. Ivan's). I have heard that the Service Charge is a tip and that you are welcome add to it if the service is good. I've also read on some websites that the Service Charge is not considered a tip, and you are expected to tip a full 15-20% on top of that. What's the right answer?

Mike...below is a link to an earlier thread about service charge/tipping...it should help clear things up.
http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...ice-charge-tip